Quote:
Here's how it goes:
Them: Hey, love the salmon
Me: Thanks
---End Conversation 1---
Them: You're good
Me: ...
---End Conversation 2---
Them: another compliment
Me: ...
---End Conversation 3---
Them: Yet Another
Me: ...
---End Conversation 4---
*Bolded text added by Roads
It is an art and a skill to carry on a conversation. Many of these compliments are no doubt attempts to start a conversation. By meeting them with "thanks", you are ending the conversation. You are not carrying on the conversation by transition to a topic of mutual interest. They go their way, and the another person revolves back into place with salmon in hand and a compliment readied between their lips. For most people, it's a natural way of beginning a conversation.
Now instead, go back to the cookout, imagine this happening:
Quote:
Here's how it goes:
Them: Hey, love the salmon
Me: Thanks, I got the recipe from an Indian shaman while I was visiting Peru. You know they say if you truly enjoy the salmon you will also enjoy the company of the chef who made it.
Them: What?! No way!
Me: Haha OK I lied about the Indian shaman but the rest is true.
Them: another compliment
Me: Yep, and that's why it tastes tangy, that adobo spice is a special blend of herbs and ingredients from Brazil.
Them: Peru? Brazil? Wow you sure know your way around South America.
Me: Yeah, you know I visited this website that was kind of a dating site, but then I learned that for others to truly accept and like me I had to accept and like myself. So I decided to go out and see the world, and experience the wonders of different cultures.
Them: Shock and awe.
*Bolded text added by Roads
Sure, it may not be as fantastic as the above, but I think you know what I mean. Give them something else to compliment about. They are starting a conversation with you, share with them a small, medium, or large portion of your life (and salmon), and you'll see that they will naturally show their appreciation in the form of compliments. And yes, stunned silence counts as a compliment sometimes
